Evidently, Rich Harden.
The waiver deadline has come and gone, and Rich Harden is still a Cub. He'll make his next scheduled start tonight against the Astros.
Odd, odd move.
My biggest complaint with this Cubs team has been that they they've been happy to maintain the status-quo.
They won't go into sell mode, and start some early planning for next season. And worse, they won't upgrade a terribly flawed team, even as they hang on to some hope of a wild card berth.
So what do they do? True to form, spend a week in serious talks to move Harden, only to walk away, ...

The Chicago Cubs had the opportunity to move two pitchers off their staff after they were claimed off waivers, but they were unable to reach an agreement on deals for either of them.
Rich Harden and Aaron Heilman were both claimed off waivers last week, reportedly by the Twins and Giants, respectively.
Harden has pitched very well in the second half of the season, and his value likely escalated in the wake of the Angels trading for Scott Kazmir. Heilman, meanwhile, has been a waste of both money and a roster spot.
In not moving either pitcher, the Cubs and General Manager Jim ...

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi report in an article that the cubs are more open to moving pitcher Rich Harden. As a Twins fan, I find this exciting and a huge upgrade to what we have right now.
Here's the article:
The Twins are serious about acquiring right-hander Rich Harden from the Chicago Cubs, and the Cubs may be more open to dealing Harden than originally thought, major league sources told FOXSports.com on Saturday. Chicago placed Harden on waivers earlier this week, and Minnesota was awarded the claim. The teams have until Monday to work out a deal. The Cubs could ...

The Chicago Cubs are a mess.
Last year, they had the best record in the National League. In 2009, they're going to need a miracle to make the playoffs.
Last year, they had the top offense in the National League. In 2009, they're near the bottom.
Last year, they were near the top in starting pitching, but their bullpen failed more than the management was willing to stomach. So they had a winter overhaul. In 2009, they lead the National League in blown saves.
There are a lot of problems with this team, but I think there's a way to get back ...

Less than a week ago, I wrote a piece in which I referred to Carlos Zambrano as "Big Zero" after he failed to look competent against the Washington Nationals.
The response to that piece was mixed, as is the general sentiment towards Zambrano in Chicago these days. Statistically, Zambrano is as good as any right handed pitcher in the game for his career. But lately, his injuries and attitude have aggravated many fans.
When the Cubs began a homestand with the Nationals, and Zambrano had a poor showing, I was angry. Big-money pitchers need to be their best when the money's ...

Things are looking very dull for the Chicago Cubs and their playoff hopes. The lovable losers are nine games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central Division, and that number doesn’t seem to want to decrease.
The Cardinals are playing very strong, and they just seem to win whenever the Cubs do.
Lou Piniella told reporters to blame him for this dismal season, and while you usually do blame the manager for a bad season, you can hardly blame Lou for the Cubs’ problems this season.
The only problem I have with the job Lou has done this year is his inability to ...

Well, one thing is becoming crystal clear in this murky Cubs season: Jake Fox can hit a baseball.
Now, I realize I haven't been his biggest supporter but that is largely due to erroneous reports that his defense was so bad that packing a glove was arbitrary.
The truth is, however, that while Fox will never be more than an average (at best) fielder at any position, his defensive shortcomings have been greatly exaggerated by the organization. His bat may actually more than make up for his glove.
But where could he play in 2010? Even if the Cubs are able to dispose ...

Well, one thing is becoming crystal clear in this murky Cubs season: Jake Fox can hit a baseball.
Now, I realize I haven't been his biggest supporter but that is largely due to erroneous reports that his defense was so bad that packing a glove was arbitrary.
The truth is, however, that while Fox will never be more than an average (at best) fielder at any position, his defensive shortcomings have been greatly exaggerated by the organization. His bat may actually more than make up for his glove.
But where could he play in 2010? Even if the Cubs are able to dispose ...

The Cubs need a closer.
The White Sox need a starter.
The Cubs are trying to trade Rich Harden.
The White Sox were trying to trade Bobby Jenks.
Proposed trade
The Chicago Cubs send Rich Harden to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Bobby Jenks.
It's a low-risk, high-reward opporunity.
Jenks and Harden could both be out of Chicago next year. Their salaries are fairly close together—with Harden owed a bit more money than Jenks—but it could be just for the rest of the season if things don't work out.
Both teams need it.
Harden is pitching fantastically. Since July 10, he has a 2.20 ERA, a .172 batting ...

Reports out of Chicago late Saturday night are that the results of Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano's MRI show nothing more than tendinitis in his left knee. There is reportedly no structural damage to the knee.
The "Aw, shucks" you hear is from most Cubs fans, as Soriano needing bench time would allow manager Lou Piniella to play rookie phenom Jake Fox in left field more regularly.
Fox, 27, has been an offensive powderkeg since coming to Chicago. In only 160 at bats through Saturday, he has 10 home runs and 39 runs batted in already, with a batting average over .300 as ...